Connections Program

The Connections program is offered in partnership with the Brockville Police Service, Gananoque Police Service and RNJ Youth Services with the support of Community Partners throughout Leeds and Grenville.

Purpose:

To provide evidence based services in the Counties of Lanark, Leeds and Grenville, for youth in grades 6-12 who are showing evidence of disengaging from the school system as seen through suspensions, progression toward suspensions or difficulty participating in school programming and with as-risk youth who have had or are moving toward contact with the criminal justice system.

Practice:

Services will be offered in an individualized manner to address the root causes of behaviour; and assist in navigation and coordination of services including mental health and addictions.

Participation is voluntary.

Services will be provided by a professional educator and youth workers who will create a personal achievement plan for each child. The team will implement activities that promote life skills, the arts, recreational skills, social and emotional skills and support educational goals.

The services will be provided from 8:30am – 2:00pm weekdays at the Bethel Christian Reformed Church in Brockville. There will be opportunity for youth to access appropriate services outside of these core hours as well.

Measurement of Success

As with the individualized programming and service delivery the measurement of success will be individualized within the student learning plan.

Program success will be measured through standard measures such as:

Attendance

Participation in daily activities

Course work completion and achievement

Student self-report of success

Eligibility

Students who are in grades 6-12 can be referred by their home school, a parent or guardian, self, or other community agency.